1. Flail chest: Monitor pulse oximetry and blood gases, intubate and ventilate if there is hypoxia or respiratory distress. Consider early intubation in elderly or severe multitrauma patients. 2. Open, sucking/blowing wound in the chest wall: Do not suture or pack before thoracostomy tube insertion. Danger of tension pneumothorax! A Square gauze taped on only 3 sides can be applied while preparing for chest tube insertion. 3. Tension pneumothorax: Initial decompression with needle insertion through the
Platelets should be transfused at a rate of 10 milliliters per minute for approximately 30 minutes, explains the Department of Pathology at the University of Michigan Health System.
Typically one unit of random-donor platelets should increase the platelet count of a 70 kg adult by 5 x 109/L. Response to platelet transfusions should be assessed by obtaining a platelet count 15 minutes to 1 hour posttransfusion and calculating the corrected count increment (CCI) as shown in the Figure.